NYT-Cuba: "Obama could have taken modest, gradual steps toward a thaw. Instead, he has courageously
gone as far as he can, within the constraints of an outmoded 1996 law that imposes stiff sanctions on Cuba in the pursuit of regime change.
Following months of secret negotiations with the Cuban government, President Obama on Wednesday announced sweeping changes to normalize relations with Havana, a bold move that ends one of the most misguided chapters in American foreign policy.
The administration’s decision to restore full diplomatic relations, take steps to remove Cuba from the State Department list of countries that sponsor terrorism and roll back restrictions on travel and trade is a change in direction that has been strongly supported by this page. The White House is ushering in a transformational era for millions of Cubans who have suffered as a result of more than 50 years of hostility between the two nations.
“These 50 years have shown isolation does not work,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s time for a new approach.”
Administration officials recognize that Congress is unlikely to take complementary steps toward a healthier relationship with Cuba anytime soon. But this move will inevitably inform the debate about the merits of engagement. In all likelihood, history will prove Mr. Obama right.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Good on you mr President
Ain't no injured ducks around here thats for fucking sure. 
We didn't HATE Cuba back then.
But you know how Republicans are. Once they turn on their hate they can't shut it off.
